Batch charger



Feb.. 9, 1943. B. NoBLE BATCH cmmmimv Filed March 29, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 B. NOBLE BATCH CHARGER Feb. 9, 1943.

Feb. 9, 1943. B, NOBLE 2,310,592

' BATCH CHARGER Filed March 29, 1941 3 Shees-Sheet 3 MGMT/KM Patented Feb. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATCH CHARGER v l Bert'Noble, oakland, cauf. Application March29, 1941, Serial No. 385,845

' 1a claims. (c1. 214-2) This invention relates to mechanisms for handling and apportioning the several ingredients of a mixture such as concrete.

It is an object of the invention to provide a readily portablelstorage hopper, weighing mechai nism and loading device, which may be advanced as the work progresses so as to maintain the Cil source of the raw materials economically close to vtrolley or domestic electric service lines.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a mechanism of the class described, a. novel arrangement in which the skip, for transporting measured quantities of ingredients from a storage station to a discharge station, functions as v an integral portion of a weighing mechanism so that the various ingredients are weighed as they are deposited in the skip.

The invention possesses otherl objects and features of advantage which, together with the foregoing, will be specifically brought out in the detailed description of the invention hereunto annexed. It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific form thereof herein shown and described as various other embodiments thereof may be employed within the scope of the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of the batch charger of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the batch charger showing the latter conditioned for transport.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the batch charger conditioned for operation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmental side elevational view showing, particularly, the weighing mechanism.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring to Figure 3, I provide a pair of parallel side frames each composed of vertical corner posts 6 secured together by horizontally extending bars l., 8 and 9 and by transverse cross members II. The rear end of the frame is provided with a pair of elevated extension members I2 carrying mountings I3 for an axle I4 upon which ground-engaging wheels I6 are journaled. A pair of frame members I'l, attached to the forward corner posts 6 and forming the bottom of an elevator support frame, carries crossmembers I8 upon which is mounted one section of a trailer hitch I9 which may be attached, as shown in Figure 2, to a mating hitch section 2I mounted on a truck or tractor 22 so that the batch charger may be transported from one scene of operations to another. As shown in Figure 3, the batch charger is detached from the truck or tractor and is set upon support blocks 23 so that the weight of the charger, during operations thereof, in addition to the weight of the material being handled, will not be imposed on the wheels I6.

Means are provided for storing quantities of separate ingredients in the charger and for replenishing the said quantities as portions thereof are removed from storage. Carried by the corner posts 6 and the bars 9 is a plurality; preferably three, of separate hoppers 24, 26 and 2'I each having an open top and converging at its bottom to form a constricted discharge spout 28. The hoppers 24, 26 and 21 may contain, respectively, gravel or crushed rock, sand and cement. Jour- Analed on brackets 29 extending rearwardly from the rear corner posts 6, is a pivot shaft 3| upon which is mounted a pair of parallel conveyor side plates 32 each being provided with a stiening frame 33 and having adjacent each end a transverse shaft 34 each of which carries a pulley 36.

The shafts 34 are journaled in bearing plates 31 forming part of the stiffening frame 33. An endless belt 38, tractionally engaging the pulleys 36, has attached thereto a plurality of buckets 39. An open-top three-sided bin 4I having hanger lugs 42, which pivotally engage hooks 43 formed at the ends of the extension members I2, is positioned at the lower end of the conveyor so that material dumped into the bin 4I will be picked up by the conveyor buckets 39 as they pass through the bin and elevated toward the upper end of the conveyor. A motor unit 44, preferably an internal combustion engine, is mounted on a platform 46, provided adjacent the rear end of the lower frame bars 1, and has its drive shaft 41 connected by a chain 48 to drive a jack shaft having a sprocket 49 connected by a primary drive chain 5I with an idler sprocket 52 journaled on the pivot shaft 3|. A sprocket 53, secured for rotation with the idler sprocket 52, has a chain 54 engaged therewith which also engages a sprocket 56 secured to the upper transverse shaft 34. Thus the motor or engine 44 is connected to drive the conveyor belt 38 and, by the provision of the hinged drive at the pivot shaft 3|, the conveyor may be rocked about the pivot shaft without disturbing or disconnecting any of the drive mechanism.

Each of the vertical side plates of the hoppers has attached, by hinges 81, to the upper edge thereof a vertical nap 58 so that the height of the side plates is extended. Transversely extend ing bulkhead plates 89 and 8| are pivotally mounted, by hinges 82, on the upper edges of the intermediate hopper walls and are each provided with clips 88 for bolting the bulkhead plates to the flaps 88 so as to maintain the latter and the bulkhead plates in substantially vertical psitions. A plate 84, secured to the edges of the conveyor side plates 82, functions as a vertical side for the hopper 24. Positioned above the hoppers is an inclined tubular chute 86 provided adjacent its lower end with spaced clips 81, which straddle the upper edge of the bulkhead plate 8|, and having at its upper end an enlarged entrance hopper 88 whose side plates 89 overlap the side plates 82 at the upper end of the conveyor. A flap 1|, pivotally connectedv by means of a hinge 12 to the underside of the chute 88, has a clip 13 secured to its lower end to form a fork straddling and engaging the upper edge oi" the bulkhead plate 59. The ap 1| thus serves as an, upward continuation of the plate 59. Openings 14 and 18, formed in the bottom of the chute 88, are positioned, respectively, above the open ends of the hoppers 24 and 29 and are each provided with hinged gates 11 the lower portion of each of which is adapted to be swung into a position overlying and closing the chute openings 14 or 'I6 and, when the lower portion is swung downwardly to uncover the opening, the upper portion being positioned to clock the chute passage. Thus, as shown in Figure 3, the material being carried by the buckets 39 upwardly from the bin 4| will be discharged into the entrance hopper 98 and will flow out of the opening 14 into the hopper 24. Similarly, if the opening 14 is closed and the opening 18 is open, the material will flow along the chute until it reaches the opening 16 whereupon it will discharge into the hopper 26. If both openings 14 and 18 are closed, the material will ow competely through the chute and will discharge from the end thereof into the hopper 21, Thus, by manipulating the gates 11, the material may be directed into any selected one of the hoppers.

The batcher, with the conveyor erected and the chute 66 in place, possesses considerable overall height and therefore I have arranged for the parts to be conveniently folded and collapsed so as to permit transportation of the batcher along thoroughfares where the headroom is limited due to overhead trolley wires or domestic electric power feeder lines. In accomplishing this reduction in height, the chute 88 is rst lifted from engagement with the upper edges of the bulkhead plates 59 and 8| and lowered to the ground. The bolts holding the clips 63 are now removed and the plates are swung downwardly about the hinges 62 until the plates are in substantially horizontal positions. An angle iron clip 18 engages the distal edge of the plate 8| lowered. as shown in Figure 2, into the well formed at the top of the hoppers by the downward folding of the bulkhead plates I9 and 8|. The bin 4| may now be replaced with the pins 42 engaging the mounting hooks 48 and the normally upper endof the bin resting on a cross member 8|- forming part of the structure of the extension members i2. The chute 88 may be conveniently placed on top of the bin 4I with the entrance hopper 88 thereof lying on top of the extension members I2. 'Ihe batcher, after being hitched to the truck or tractor 22 and upon removal of the support blocks 23, is now ready for transportation.

' Means is provided for releasing materials from the respective hoppers and means is provided below the hoppers for receiving the discharged materials. Asis best shown in Figures 4 and 5, each of the hopper spouts 28 is provided with a gate 82 closing its lower end and with a pair of parallel rails 83 extending horizontally therefrom. Upturned stops 84 are provided at each end of the rails 88. The gates 82 are each provided with straps 88 having uptumed ends 81 provided with pins 88 upon which are journaled rollers 89 resting on top of the rails 83, and with an ear 9| bearing a pin 92 to which is pivotally attached one end of a drag link 93. The other end of the drag link 93 is pivotally connected, by means of a pin 94, to a control lever 98 which is pivotally mounted, at its upper end and by a pin 91, on brackets 98 supported by the4 sides of the hoppers. It will be seen that by pulling or pushing on the control lever 98 the gate 82 may be moved, as the rollers pass along the tracks 83. to uncover or close the lower end of the hopper spout. A skip 99, having an open top and one open end, is positioned below the spout openings so as to receive any materials which are discharged from the hoppers 24, 28 or 21 through the'gates 82 thereof.

Means is provided for weighing the material discharged into the skip 99. Extending along and spaced from the opposite longitudinal sides of the skip and tied together at their rearward ends by a cross member 0| are parallel skip rails |02 each having an upwardly curved forward end portion |03. Peripherally flanged rear wheels |04, which are journaled on pins |88 carried by a reinforcing band |01 mounted transversely on and adjacent the rear end of the skip, engage the tops of the skip rails |02 and stops |08, welded or otherwise secured to the rails |02, are engageable by the wheels |04 so as to limit the rearward movement of the skip on the rails and to insure proper positioning of the skip below the delivery spouts 28. A pair of forward wheels |09, journaled on pins carried by a forward reinforcing band ||2 secured to the skip are engaged in movable lower sections ||8 of channel tracks, the latter sections of the channel tracks being fixedly secured, by gusset plates ||4, to the curved end portions |03 of the skip rails. Parallel upper skip rails H6, which are continuations of the curved por tions |03 of the skip track, extend angularly upwardly for a considerable distance beyond and above the frame supporting the trailer hitch i9 and are attached to bars ||1 extending from the upper edge of the hoppers and to forward extensions H8 of the frame bars 9. Vertical frame bars ||9, |2| and diagonal bracing bars |22 stabilize the rails IIB and the hitch mounting |1 and I8. Parallel lower channel rails |28, which are continuations of the movable rail sections H3, also extend angularly upwardly in equidistant relation with and below the skip rails H6. The upper end of each channel 'rail |23 and also the lower end of each movable rail section H3, is blocked by looped portions |25 oi' the channel flanges. It will be noted that the lower portions |03 and ||3 of the skip track and channel rails are separated from the rising portions of the track and rails, which are ixedly mounted on the batcher frame, by a gap |26. Thus the rails |02, including the rising portions |03 thereof, and the lower portions of the channel rails which, together, form the skip cradle, are free for limited movement vertically with respect to the fixed portions of the skip track.

Secured to the bars 8, by gusset 'plates |21, and substantially vertically alined above the skip rails |02, are scale support bars |28, secured by nuts |29 to the ends of which are upper hanger rods |3| each being provided, at its lowerend, with a hook |32. Supported by each oi the hooks |32 is a fulcrum clevis |33 having apertures |34 in its legs in which the knife-edged fulcrum pins |36 carried, respectively, by the front lever arms |31 and the shorter rear lever arms |38 are positioned. Preferably tubular shafts |39 are secured, as by welding, to the lever arms |31 and |38 so that they lare secured together for corresponding movement. Additional fulcrum clevises I4 i, which are hung on knife-edged fulcrum pins |42 provided on the lever arms |31 and |38 and spaced from the pins |36, engage the hooks |43 formed at the upper ends of lower hanger rods |44. One pair of these hanger rods passes through apertures formed in and adjacent the rear ends of the skip rails |02 and are secured thereto by nuts |46. The other pair of hanger rods |44 are secured, by nuts |41, to angle clips |48 secured to the gusset plates |4 adjacent the forward ends of the skip rails. The ends of the longer lever arms |31 enter a fulcrum block |49 and rest therein on knifeedged fulcrumpins |I. A fulcrum clevis |52 is secured to and rises from the fulcrum block |49 and engages fulcrum pins |53 carried by a scale bar |54 which is pivotally mounted, by fulcrum pins |56 engaged' in -the leg apertures |51 of a clevs |58, on a scale support bar |28, a stud |59, secured by nuts |6|, eecting the connection between the scale bar and its relatively xed support. The end of the scale bar |54 enters a scale frame |62 and is pivotally connected, by pins |63 and a link |64, with the uppermost one of a series of weight beams |66, |61' and |68, which are each pivotally mounted by pins |69, or their equivalent, in the scale frame |62. Each oi the weight beams are pro-v vided with the usual Weight-indicating graduations and with slidable counter-weights |1| which may be locked in registry with any selected one of the graduations by means of knurled thumb screws |12. Detachable links |13 are provided on the weight beams |61 and |68 so that these latter weight beams may be releasably attached to the uppermost weight beam |66. An over-and-under dial |14 is provided on the scale frame |62 which has an indicator |16 operatively connected by a link |11, or by other such connecting means, with the scale bar |54. y

The triple beam scale just described is provided for separately Weighing the materials deposited in the skip 99 from the respective hoppers 24, 26 and 21. For instance, when it is desired ...to proportion a batch of material, the lower vweight beams |61 and |68 are released from the upper weight beam |66 by releasing the detachable links |13. The desired weight of material forming the first ingredient of the batch is now registered on the weight beam |66 by properly setting the counterweight |1| thereof. The operator now manipulates the control lever 86 -of the hopper 24 so as to open the gate 82 of the latter. Material, which in this case is crushed rock or gravel, will now flow from the hopper 24 into the skip 99. When the required amount of material has been deposited in the skip, which will be indicated by the indicator |16 of the overand-under dial |14 registering with the balance index |13, the gate 82 is closed. The weight 'beam |61 is now connected with the upper weight beam |66 by means of the uppermost detachable link |13 and the desired weight of second ingredient of the batch is set thereon by properly locating its counterweight |1I. The gate 82 of the hopper 26 is now opened allowing the sand contained therein to ow into the skip 99. As before, the deposition of the correct amount of sand in the skip will be indicated by registry of the indicator |16 with the index |18 after which the gate of the hopper 26 may be closed. The lowermost weight beam |68 is now connected with the weight beam |61 by the lower link |13 and the desired weight of cement is indicated on the beam |68 by' setting its counterweight |1|. The gate of the hopper 21 is now opened allowing cement to iiow from the latter hopper into the skip 99. Again, indication o1 the correct weight of cement in the skip will be shown by the indicator |16 registering with its index |18 whereupon the gate of the hopper 21 may be closed. After the counterweights |1| have been once set, the separate ingredients of successive batches may be weighed bymerely attaching or detaching the links |13. v

Means is provided for moving the loaded skip 99 to an elevated position and there tilting the skip so that its load may be dumped into a conveying device or other receiver. Journaled in bearings |19, mounted at the junction of the` frame members ||1 and I2 is a transverse hoist shaft 8| provided, as is best shown in Figure 1, with a pair of drums |82, positioned Within the frame, and a drive drum |83 positioned exteriorly of the frame on an extension of the hoist shaft. A drive cable |84, wound about the drum |83 extends rearwardly of the batcher and is also wound about a drum |86 carried by a shaft |81 mounted by bearings |88 on the platform 46. A

chain drive |89 connects the shaft |81 to be driven by the Jackshaft which, in turn, is driven by the motor ,shaft 41. A suitable disconnecting clutch, not shown but familiar to those skilled in the art,is,provided in the drive connection of the shaft 81 asis also a brake so that the shaft |81 may be connected, when desired, to be driven by the motor 44 or so that rotation of the shaft may be controllably resisted when it is disconnected from the motor. Hoist cables 9| each having an end wound around and connected with the drums |82, extend downwardly, within the frame substantially paralleling the tracks ||6 and |23, under guide rollers |92, which are journaled on stub shafts |93 supported by brackets |94 carried by lower ends of the rails ||6 and |23, and are secured, by means of clevises |96 and pins |91 to slip connectors |98. Each of the slip condisposed. When the shaft |31 is connected to be driven by the motor 44, the cable |84 will be unwound from the drum |83 onto the drum |86 thereby rotating the hoist shaft |8| and causing the hoist cables |9| to be wound upon the drums |82. This will pull the skip 99 out from under the hoppers and upwardly along the rails ||6 and |23; the forward wheels |24 following within the channel rails |23 and the rear wheels |04 riding along the top of the tracks IIS. When the forward wheels |24 reach the stops |25 at the upper end of the channel rails |23 the forward movement of the skip will be arrested and further pull on the cables |8| will lift the skip, about a fulcrum coinciding with the axis of the wheels |24, into a tilted position, indicated by the dotted lines of Figure 3, so that the contents of the skip may flow from the open forward end thereof into a hopper 203 which is carried by the forward end of the frame bars I8 and is positioned above the loading aperture 204 of a receiver which may be, for example, a mixer truck 206 or a stationary mixer. After dumping, the hoisting clutch is released and the skip is allowed to descend, by gravity and under the restraint of the lowering brake, to its original position below the material hoppers where it may again be loaded as described above.

Since there may be more or less tension in the hoisting cables |9| which might interfere with correct Weighing of the material being deposited in the skip 99,1 provide means for slacking off on the cables when the skip is in its lower or loading position. On each of the slip connectors |98 I provide pins 201 which are positioned to be engaged by the hooked arms 208 of bell crank levers 209 carried by pivot pins 21 mounted on the lower frame bars 1. When the skip reaches its lower limit of travel, the operator moves the levers 290 thus'engaging the arms 208 with the pins 201 and pulling the connectors |90 downwardly so that the pins 20| are positioned about midway of the length of the slots |99. This releases any tension in the cables |9| so that it will not be reflected in the indicated weights of the materials as they are discharged from the hoppers into the skip.

Having thus described my invention in detail, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A batch charger comprising a carriage, hoppers on said carriage in which individual quantities of material may be stored, said hoppers each having therein a discharge port and provided with portions foldable to form a recess within the collective hoppers, a material elevator mounted on said carriage and having a considerable portion thereof extending above said hoppers, said elevator being movable on the carriage to bring the portion thereof extending above said hoppers into said recess, means for selectively directing material from said elevator into the respective hoppers, a scale, including a movable skip, for weighing and receiving material discharged from said hoppers through the discharge ports thereof, means for conveying said skip to an elevated position relative to said carriage, and means for dumping said material from the skip.

2. A batch charger comprising a carriage, hoppers on said carriage in which individual quantities of material may be stored, said hoppers each having therein a discharge port and provided with portions foldable to form a recess within the collective hoppers, a material elevator mounted on said carriage and"\having a considerable portion thereof extending above said hoppers, said elevator being movable on the carriage to bring the portion thereof extending above said hoppers into said recess, means for selectively directing material from said elevator into the respective hoppers, a scale, including movable skip rails and a skip supported thereon, for weighing and receiving material discharged from said hoppers through the discharge ports thereof, fixed skip rails extending toward an elevated position relative to said skip and alined with said movable skip rails, means for moving said skip from said movable skip rails onto and along said fixed skip rails, and means at said elevated position of the fixed skip rails for tilting said skip to dump said materia1 therefrom.

3. A batch charger comprising a carriage, a plurality of hoppers on said carriage in which individual quantities of material may be stored. said hoppers each having therein a discharge port and having a recessed top portion, erectile plates in said recessed top portion of the hoppers for vertically extending the depth of the latter, a substantially vertically positioned material-elevating conveyor pivotally mounted on said carriage and having a considerable portion thereof movable from an erected position above said hoppers to a reclining positionwithin said recessed top of the hoppers, means for selectively directing material from said conveyor into the respective hoppers. a scale positioned below said hoppers adjacent the discharge ports thereof, a skip carried on said scale and movable along tracks to an elevated position on said carriage, means for releasing material from said hoppers to enter said skip, and means operative at said elevated position of the skip for tilting the skip to dump said material therefrom.

4. A batch charger comprising a carriage, a frame rising vertically from said carriage, a plurality of individual hoppers on said frame in which quantities of material may be stored, each of said hoppers having a discharge port therein, means for opening and closing said hopper discharge ports for controlling discharge of said material from the hoppers, side plates rising from opposite upper edges of said hoppers to form a recess above said hoppers, flaps hingedly mounted on said side plates and movable to vertically erect positions for selectively increasing the vertical height of said side plates, transverse bulkhead plates hingedly mounted on said hoppers at upper edges thereof and movable from reclining positions forming the bottom of said recess to erected positions forming vertical extensions of transverse sides of the hoppers, a conveyor support frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said carriage frame, an endless belt conveyor carried by said conveyor support frame, a bin mounted on said carriage frame and through which the lower portion of said belt conveyor passesfortransporting material from said bin to an elevated position above said hoppers, the upper portion of said conveyor frame being receivable, when the conveyor frame is moved about its pivot, within said recess above the hoppers, means for driving said conveyor belt, means for selectively directing material elevated by said conveyor into the respective hoppers, means including a movable skip positioned below said hopper discharge ports for weighing and receiving individual quantities of material discharged from said hoppers, means for moving said skip to an elevated position on said carriage frame, and means for dumping said skip.

5. A batch charger comprising a. carriage, a frame rising vertically from said carriage, a plurality of individual hoppers on said frame in which quantities of material may be stored, each of said hoppers having a discharge port therein, means for opening and closing said hopper discharge ports for controlling discharge of said material from the hoppers, side plates rising from opposite upper edges of said hoppers to form a recess above said hoppers, iiaps hingedly mounted on said side plates and movable to vertically erect positions for selectively increasing the vertical height of said side plates, transverse bulkhead plates hingedly mounted on said hoppers at upper edges thereof and movable from reclining positionsl forming the bottom of said recess to erected positions forming vetrical extensions of transverse sides of the hoppers, a conveyor support frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said carriage frame, an endless belt conveyor carried by said conveyor support frame, a bin mounted on said carriage frame and through which the lower portion of said belt conveyor passes for transporting material from said bin' to an elevated position above said hoppers, the upper portion of said conveyor frame being receivable, when the conveyor frame is moved about its pivot, within said recess above the hoppers, means for driving said conveyor belt, a chute for receiving material discharged from said conveyor and extending across said plurality of hoppers, gates in said chute above said hoppers for selectively diverting said material from the chute into a selected one of said hoppers, means including a movable skip positioned below said hopper discharge ports for weighingand receiving individual quantities of material discharged from said hoppers, means for moving said skip to an elevated position on said carriage frame, and means for dumping said skip.

6. A batch charger comprising a carriage, a frame rising vertically from said carriage, a plurality of individual hoppers on said frame in which quantities of material may be stored, each of said hoppers having a discharge port therein, means for opening and closing said hopper discharge ports for controlling discharge of said material from the hoppers, side plates rising from opposite upper edges of said hoppers to form a recess above said hoppers, flaps hingedly mounted on said side plates and movable to vertically erect positions for selectively increasing the vertical height of said side plates, transverse bulkhead mounted on said chute movable to s'multaneously uncover said opening and to block said chute against the passage of material through the chute past said discharge opening so as to divert said material from the chute through the discharge opening into one of said hoppers, means including a movable skip positioned below said hopper discharge ports for weighing and receiving individual quantities'of material discharged from said hoppers, means for moving said skip to an elevated position on said carriage frame, and means for dumping said skip. i

7. A batch charger comprising a carriage, a frame rising vertically 4from said carriage, a plurality of individual hoppers on said frame in which quantities of material may be stored;- each of said hoppers having a discharge port therein, means for opening and closing said hopper discharge ports for controlling discharge of said material from the hoppers, side .plates rising from opposite upper edges of said hoppers to form a recess above said hoppers, aps hingedly mounted on said side plates and movable to vertically erect positions for selectively increasing the vertical height of said side plates, transverse vbulkhead plates hingedly mounted on said hoppers at upper edges thereof and movable from reclining positions forming' the bottom of said recess to erected .positions forming vertical extensions of transverse sides of the hoppers, a conveyor support frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said carriage frame, an endless belt conveyor carried by said conveyor support frame, a vbin mounted on said carriage frame and through which the lower portion of said belt conveyor passes for transporting material from said bin to an elevated position above said hoppers, the upper portion of said conveyor frame being receivable, when the conveyor frame is moved about its pivot, within said recess above the hoppers, means for driving said conveyor belt, a chute for receiving material discharged from said conveyor and extending across said plurality of hoppers, means on said chute for releasably mounting the chute on said bulkhead plates, gates in said chute above said hoppers for selectively directing said material from the chute into a selected one of said hoppers, means including a Y movable skip positioned below said hopper displates hingedly mounted on said hoppers at upper l edges thereof and movable from reclining positions forming the bottom of said recess to erected positions forming vertical extensions of transverse sides of the hoppers, a conveyor support frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on `said carriage frame, an endless belt conveyor carried by said conveyor support frame, a bin mounted on said carriage frame and through which the lower portion of said .belt conveyor passes for transporting material from said -bin to an elevated Iposition above said hoppers, the upper portion of said conveyor frame being receivable, when the conveyor frame is moved about its pivot, within said recess above the hoppers, means for driving said conveyor belt, a chute for receiving material discharged from said conveyor and extending across said plurality of hopcharge ports for weighing and receiving individual quantities of material discharged from said hoppers, means for moving said skip to an elevated position on said carriage frame, and -means for dumping said skip.

8. A batch charger comprising a carriage, a frame rising vertically from said carriage, a plurality of individual hoppers on said frame in which quantities of material may be stored, each of said hoppers having a discharge port therein, means for opening and closing said hopper discharge ports for controlling discharge of said material from the hoppers, side plates rising from opposite upper edges of said hoppers to pers, a discharge opening in said chute, agate form av recess above said hoppers, ilaps hingedly mounted on said side plates and movable to vertically erect positions for selectively increasing the vertical height of said side plates, transverse bulkhead plates hingedly mounted on said hoppers at upper edges thereof and movable from reclining positions forming the bottom of said recess to erected positions forming vertical extensions of transverse sides of the hoppers, a conveyor support frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on. said carriage frame, an endless belt conveyor carried by said conveyor support frame, a bin mounted on said carriage frame and through which the lower portion of said belt conveyor passes for transporting material from said bin to an elevated position above said hoppers, the upper portion of said conveyor frame being receivable, when the conveyor frame is moved about its pivot, within said recess above the hoppers, means for driving said conveyor belt, means for selectively directing materal elevated by said conveyor into the respective hoppers, a scale on said carriage positioned below said hoppers and including a skip cradle, askip, for receiving material discharged from said hoppers/movable onto and from said skip cradle, guide rails on said carriage frame along which said skip may be moved to an elevated position on said carriage frame, means for moving said skip along said guide rails, and means operative at said elevated position for tilting said skip to dump said material therefrom.

9. A batch charger comprising a, carriage, a frame rising vertically from said carriage, a plu-` rality of individual hoppers on said frame in which quantities of material may be stored, each of said hoppers having a discharge port therein, means for opening and closing said hopper discharge ports for controlling discharge of said material from the hoppers, side plates rising from opposite upper edges of said hoppers to form a recess above said hoppers, aps hingedly mounted on said side plates and movable to vertically erect positions for selectively increasing the vertical height of said side plates, transverse bulkhead plates hingedly mounted on said hoppers at upper edges thereof and movable from reclining positions forming the bottom of said recess to erected positions forming vertical extensions of transverse sides of the hoppers, a conveyor support frame pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said carriage frame, an endless belt conveyor carried by said conveyor support frame, a bin mounted on said carriage frame and through which the lower portion of said belt conveyor passes for transporting material from said bin to an elevated position above said hoppers, the upper portion of said conveyor frame being receivable, when the conveyor frame is moved about its pivot, within said recess above the hoppers, means for driving said conveyor belt, means for selectively directing material elevated by said conveyor into the respective hoppers, a scale on said carriage positioned below said hoppers and including a pair of parallel skip rails, a skip, for receiving material discharged from said hoppers, provided with wheels engaging said skip rails, continuation rails secured to said carriage frame and extending angularly upwardly thereon to an elevated position, powered means for moving said skip along said skip rails and said continuation rails to said elevated position, and means operative at said elevated position for tilting said skip to dump said material therefrom.

10. A batch charger comprising a carriage, a

' frame rising vertically from said carriage, a plurality of individua1 hoppers on said frame in which quantities of material may be stored, each of said hoppers having a discharge port therein, means for opening and closing said hopper discharge ports for controlling discharge of said material from the hoppers, side plates rising from opposite upper edges of said hoppers to form a recess above said hoppers, aps hingedly mounted on said side plates and movable to vertically erect positions for selectively increasing the vertical height of said side plates, transverse bulkhead plates hingedly mounted on said hoppers at upper edges thereof and movable from reclining positions forming the bottom of said recess to erected positions forming vertical extensions of transverse sides of the hoppers. a conveyor support frame pivotally mountedintermediate its ends on said carriage frame, an endless belt conveyor carried by said conveyor support frame, a bin mounted on said carriage frame and through which the lower portion of said belt conveyor passes for transporting material from said bin to an elevated position above said hoppers, the upper portion of said conveyor frame being receivable, when the conveyor frame is moved about its pivot, within said recess above the hoppers, means for driving said conveyor belt, means for selectively directing material elevated by said conveyor into the respective hoppers, a scale on said carriage positioned below said hoppers and including a pair of parallel skip rails, a skip, for receiving material discharged from said hoppers, provided with wheels engaging said skip rails, continuation rails secured to said carriage frame and extending angularly upwardly thereon to an elevated position, a hoist shaft journaled on said carriage frame, drums on said hoist shaft, cables connecting said drums and said skip, and means for rotating said hoist shaft.

ll. A batch charger Acomprising a carriage, hoppers on said carriage in which individual quantities of material may be stored, said hoppers each having therein a discharge port and provided with portions foldable to form a recess within the collective hoppers, a material elevator mounted on said carriage and having a considerable portion thereof extending above said hoppers, said elevator being movable on the carriage to bring the portion thereof extending above said hoppers into said recess, means for selectively directing material from said elevator into/the respective hoppers, a scale, including a movable skip, for weighing and receiving material discharged from said hoppers through the discharge ports thereofl means including a connector slidable relative to and into hoisting engagement with said skip for conveying said skip to an elevated position on said carriage, means for dumping said material from said skip, and means on said carriage engageable with said skip connector for moving said connector out of hoisting engagement with said skip.

12. A batch charger comprising a carriage, hoppers on said carriage in which individual quantities of material may be stored, said hoppers each having therein a discharge port and provided with portions foldable to form a recess within the collective hoppers, a material elevator mounted on said carriage and having a considerable portion thereof extending above said hoppers, said elevator being movable on the carriage to bring the portion thereof extending above said hoppers into said recess, means for selectively directing material from said elevator into ,the respective hoppers, a scale, including a movable skip, for weighing and receiving material discharged from said hoppers through the discharge ports thereof, said skip having hoisting pins secured to and extending therefrom, a hoisting shaft journaled on said carriage having drums mounted thereon, means for rotating said hoisting shaft, cables secured to said drums extending toward and terminating adjacent said skip connectors carried by said cables engaged with and slidable relative to said skip hoisting pins. and

able portion thereof extending above said hoppers, said elevator being movable on the carriage to bring the portion thereof extending above said hoppers into said recess, means for selective- 1y directing material from said elevator into the respective hoppers, a scale, including a movable skip, for weighing and receiving material discharged from 'said hoppers through the discharge ports thereof, said skip having hoisting pins secured to and extending therefrom, a hoisting shaft journaled on said carriage having drums mounted thereon, means for rotating said hoisting shaft, cables secured to said drums extending toward and terminating adjacent said skip, connectors carried by said cables each having an elongated opening therein in which the hoisting pins of said skip are slidably engaged and each further having lugs extending therefrom, and levers mounted on said carriage and movable to engage said connector lugs for'moving said connectors so as to position said skip hoisting pins substantially medially of said elongated openings of said connectors.

' BERT NOBLE. 

